Masai Mara Game Reserve | Kenya’s Crown Jewel

Masai Mara Game Reserve | Unmatched Wildlife

Masai Mara Game Reserve | Unmatched Wildlife

Depart Nairobi

Itinerary

DAY

LOCATION(S)

HOTEL

MEALS

DESCRIPTION

Day 1

Arrive Nairobi, Kenya

Fairmont The Norfolk

None

Arrive Nairobi, Kenya: Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to your luxurious accommodations.
Probably Kenya's most famous hotel, Fairmont The Norfolk
is in many ways the heart of Nairobi and has been welcoming
generations of safari-goers since it first opened its doors on
Christmas Day, 1904.

Day 2

Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Tawi Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amboseli National Park: Today, drive to Amboseli National Park at the base of soaring,
snowcapped Mount Kilimanjaro, which, at 19,341 feet, is the
highest freestanding mountain in the world. Set out in search of
the region's spectacular wildlife - African savanna elephants,
leopards, cheetahs and hosts of plains game - all roaming
freely amid swamps, springs, and a shimmering, dried lakebed.
This evening, gather with fellow guests for a welcome dinner
celebrating the start of an unforgettable safari adventure.

Day 3

Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Tawi Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amboseli National Park: Spend a full day exploring wildlife-rich Amboseli National Park,
watching for lions and buffalo. Enjoy a morning on safari before
breaking for lunch. This afternoon, make another game drive,
capped with a refreshing sundowner.

Day 4

Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Sanctuary Swala

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tarangire National Park: Drive to the Tanzania border, stopping for lunch in Arusha.
Fly from Arusha to Tarangire National Park and settle into
your luxurious accommodations. Sanctuary Swala's large tents
are built on raised decks under umbrella acacia trees overlooking
the Gurusi flood plains. The layout is very open with resident
herds of impalas often grazing in camp. Wide panoramas of
wooded savanna stretch in every direction in the park, which
is nurtured by the permanent Tarangire River and populated
by abundant big game, such as lions, elephants and buffalo.
Its dusty red landscape also hosts a large bird population.
Tonight, dine in camp.

Day 5

Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Sanctuary Swala

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tarangire National Park: Today, embark on morning and afternoon game drives, seated six to a vehicle so that every guest enjoys a window seat. Explore Tarangire National Park backdropped by the spectacular, rusthued Great Rift Valley. At Tarangire, find a stunning concentration of animals - herds of elephants, impalas and zebras. Look, too, for pythons and the twitching tails of leopards, who hide high above in sausage trees. As dusk falls, you may opt for a night safari, available at an additional cost, to search for nocturnal animals rarely seen by visitors. You may encounter an African wildcat, the elusive leopard or spy the round eyes of a bushbaby. With specialized lighting, look for lions and hyenas and smaller creatures - spotted genets, servals, bat-eared foxes and nightjars. While at Swala, you also partake in a Chef's Table experience, including a cooking demonstration of local dishes such as ugali, makande and kachumbari, followed by an opportunity to taste them.

Day 6

Ngorongoro, Tanzania

Gibb's Farm

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ngorongoro Crater: Learn how Africans live today, exploring in and around the village of Mto wa Mbu, as you Ride Like a Local by tuk-tuk, a major form of transport here. See rice fields and a banana plantation, and try banana beer at a local bar. In the village, enjoy a walk through the local market to see the colorful produce on display. After lunch in the village, head toward Ngorongoro Crater. Arrive at Gibb's Farm, on the forested slopes of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Established as a coffee farm in the 1920s and refurbished as a luxurious boutique inn, Gibb's Farm offers you the charm of another era.

Day 7

Ngorongoro, Tanzania

Gibb's Farm

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ngorongoro Crater: Today, set out on a full-day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater, exploring the panoramic, short-grass prairies along the floor of this ancient volcanic caldera, home to rare black rhinos as well as lions, hyenas and gazelles. The diverse and profuse wildlife dwelling within the encircling crater walls led this incredible “Lost World” to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also see colorfully garbed Maasai herdsmen, who call the stunning landscape home. This afternoon, visit a Maasai village and meet with an elder to learn about local culture and traditions, and witness a traditional beadwork demonstration as part of an artisan visit.

Day 8

Serengeti, Tanzania

None

None

Days 8-10: Serengeti National Park | Telling Excavations: Drive to Serengeti National Park, pausing for a privatelyguided visit at archaeologically rich Olduvai Gorge en route.The vast Tanzanian landscape hosts one of earth’s last remainingwildlife spectacles: the annual Great Migration, when millionsof herbivores trek across the Serengeti plains in search of waterand fresh grass, with hungry predators awaiting them. Over thenext two days, your adventure may reveal giraffes, wildebeests,elephants and far more on morning and afternoon game drives.You may also opt for a hot air balloon ride across the boundlessSerengeti, at an additional cost, for an exciting new perspectiveon the wildlife.

Day 9

Serengeti, Tanzania

None

None

Days 8-10: Serengeti National Park | Telling Excavations: Drive to Serengeti National Park, pausing for a privatelyguided visit at archaeologically rich Olduvai Gorge en route.The vast Tanzanian landscape hosts one of earth’s last remainingwildlife spectacles: the annual Great Migration, when millionsof herbivores trek across the Serengeti plains in search of waterand fresh grass, with hungry predators awaiting them. Over thenext two days, your adventure may reveal giraffes, wildebeests,elephants and far more on morning and afternoon game drives.You may also opt for a hot air balloon ride across the boundlessSerengeti, at an additional cost, for an exciting new perspectiveon the wildlife.

Day 10

Serengeti, Tanzania

None

None

Days 8-10: Serengeti National Park | Telling Excavations: Drive to Serengeti National Park, pausing for a privatelyguided visit at archaeologically rich Olduvai Gorge en route.The vast Tanzanian landscape hosts one of earth’s last remainingwildlife spectacles: the annual Great Migration, when millionsof herbivores trek across the Serengeti plains in search of waterand fresh grass, with hungry predators awaiting them. Over thenext two days, your adventure may reveal giraffes, wildebeests,elephants and far more on morning and afternoon game drives.You may also opt for a hot air balloon ride across the boundlessSerengeti, at an additional cost, for an exciting new perspectiveon the wildlife.

Day 11

Masai Mara Game Reserve | Kenya’s Crown Jewel

Sanctuary Olonana

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Masai Mara Game Reserve: Fly to the Masai Mara, the northern extension of the Serengeti. After settling into your riverside accommodation within the Masai Mara, immerse yourself in the wild during an afternoon game drive. Follow the Mara River to see crocodiles basking in the sun; hippos as they wallow in muddy water; and monkeys, busy sparking mischief overhead. Here, too, reside over 500 species of birds, among them eagles who glide effortlessly above the sun-soaked landscape. During your time in the Mara, enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your large, comfortable tents - complete with en suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers - await you at each day's end. Each tent also features a private veranda for game viewing, reading or simply absorbing the magical scenery around you. Tonight, join fellow guests for a Scenic Sundowner, followed by an elegant dinner.

Day 12

Masai Mara Game Reserve | Unmatched Wildlife

None

None

Days 12-13: Masai Mara Game Reserve | Unmatched Wildlife: Spend two full days exploring the open savanna, woodlandsand tree-fringed rivers of the Masai Mara, where patience isrewarded with unique sightings: leopards, who retrieve killsfrom acacia branches high above, or elephants protecting theiryoung from opportunistic lions. Game viewing is never dull inthe Mara, especially when the dramatic annual Great Migrationunfolds. Amid the stunning scenery, watch as Maasai tribesmentraverse the plains or herd goats and cattle. During one of yourmornings here, enjoy another opportunity for an optional hotair balloon ride over the sprawling Mara. Connect with localresidents when you visit a village and primary school supportedby A&K Philanthropy. Observe and learn firsthand how AKP’se-reader program is improving literacy rates here by providingstudents greater access to books.

Day 13

Masai Mara Game Reserve | Unmatched Wildlife

None

None

Days 12-13: Masai Mara Game Reserve | Unmatched Wildlife: Spend two full days exploring the open savanna, woodlandsand tree-fringed rivers of the Masai Mara, where patience isrewarded with unique sightings: leopards, who retrieve killsfrom acacia branches high above, or elephants protecting theiryoung from opportunistic lions. Game viewing is never dull inthe Mara, especially when the dramatic annual Great Migrationunfolds. Amid the stunning scenery, watch as Maasai tribesmentraverse the plains or herd goats and cattle. During one of yourmornings here, enjoy another opportunity for an optional hotair balloon ride over the sprawling Mara. Connect with localresidents when you visit a village and primary school supportedby A&K Philanthropy. Observe and learn firsthand how AKP’se-reader program is improving literacy rates here by providingstudents greater access to books.

Day 14

Depart Nairobi

Fairmont The Norfolk (Dayroom)

Breakfast

Depart Nairobi: Fly back to Nairobi and spend the afternoon at leisure in a comfortable dayroom. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your departure flight or begin a Post-Tour Extension to Uganda.

Insider Tip

Terms & Conditions

Cancellation policy: Cancellation policies are not the same for every product and you should check with A&K at the time of booking. In general, cancellations received by A&K 90 days or more prior to departure will be subject to a $500 per person/per tour cancellation fee. Cancellations received less than 90 days prior to departure will be subject to the following forfeit of tour costs: 89-60 days – 20% of tour cost; 59-30 – 50% of tour cost; 29-0 days – 100% of tour cost. A 100% cancellation charge applies to internal air cancelled less than 90 days prior to departure, where applicable. For some tours, permit costs may not be refundable.

Reviewed on: 15 Oct 2013

The best tour ever

By: Don

Reviewed on: 15 Oct 2013

First, Ross Voss is the best guide anywhere. We learned so much in a casual, conversational way. His background and knowledge enables him to cover all aspects of Israel: the ruins, the history, the geology, the flora and fauna, the people, the political/governance situation. Ross took us to some of his favorite restaurants which we loved. Also, Simon was extremely helpful and engaging. He was able to extend our stay at the King David because of our late flight home.

Recommended

Highly recommended

By: Grammy

Reviewed on: 13 Oct 2013

We were pleased with the choices of hotels and tours we had with A&K. Our tour guides were very well informed and interesting and competent. Our only problem arose with the descriptions on our itinerary. They differed a bit from what we were expecting. I feel that the itinerary they sent us was a standardized description for everyone, but not us explicitly.
Other than that, our trip was full of fun moments, great hotels and great restaurant recommendations and I would use A&K again.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

By: MASEY

Reviewed on: 30 Nov 2013

USED A AND K FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR OUR TRIP TO CHINA AND NOW WOULD USED NO OTHER…EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TRIP WAS FIRST CLASS AND OUR GUIDE NANCY WAS OUTSTANDING

Recommended

Great service

By: Lloyd

Reviewed on: 03 Dec 2013

We spent a couple of great weeks in Africa. The service was great as we were escorted from the time we left until we boarded the plane for home. We experienced many different accommodations in our travels and none were unsatisfactory. Our traveling companions needed electric power all night for a breathing machine, and were supplied with electricity everywhere. One camp could not supply electricity all night, and we were moved to a site that could. Very good service.

Needed Better Advanced Planning

By: Repeat Travelers

Reviewed on: 29 Nov 2013

We used A&K for a tour of South America. The accommodations and tour guides were excellent. However, our tour ended in Brazil on a national holiday weekend. The crowds at Iguazu Falls and Rio were substantial causing long delays. For example, our viewing of the "Christ the Redeemer" statue was re-scheduled from Saturday to Sunday and it rained constantly that day (our last) causing poor visibility, so we were unable to see this most important site.

Mediocre Morocco

By: M in London

Reviewed on: 10 Mar 2014

We just returned from a weeks vacation in Morocco with A and K. The itinerary was fine and the country is extremely beautiful. However, we did not not have a great guide. The first two days he took us to lunch at these places where there were only tourists and the server REFUSED to give us a menu. We were inclined to trust that the guide took us to a decent place so we went with the 'set' menu only to find that we were horribly ripped off. A similar scenario happened the next day until we complained to A and K. The restaurant problem improved but after that there were a few other situations where we felt ripped off. Additionally, the guide's knowledge and general interest in our having a good time seemed low. Bottom line: Others had told us that when in Morocco it seems like you have to constantly be on guard and we were hoping that going with a company like A and K would have better shielded us from this.

Recommended

Recent trip to Egypt

By: dcn3

Reviewed on: 24 Mar 2014

My wife and I just returned from an extraordinary trip to Egypt. My advice: take this trip at the next available opportunity. A&K lived up to their gold standard reputation. Their ogranization, support, professionalism, lodging, food--all excellent. What attracted us most were the sites chosen to visit, and they were, of course, spectacular. Our Egyptologist/guide, Wael, was superb: enormously knowledgeable, passionate, funny, great rapport--in other words, the best kind of teacher. What we had not anticipated was the collegiality and energy of our group. We woke up each morning looking forward to spending time with these people. This was a wonderful trip.

What a top rate Company

By: Love to Travel

Reviewed on: 11 Apr 2014

A&K is marketed as a high end operation and had a lot to live up to, and surely, they did not disappoint. First rate all the way. The Egyptian ground personnel were so welcoming, knowledgeable, efficient and professional. I would highly recommend A&K when travelling to Egypt.

Disappointing

By: Rich segall

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2014

limited cultural activities and seeming cheapness with meals. One tour director and no local guides. Switched from tauck because of group size, but clearly not worth it. Would not recommend this company.

Recommended

highly recommend

By: Dean

Reviewed on: 10 May 2014

I was very pleased with the trip organization. A and K reps met us in the hotel and were "at our service". The quality of our guide and driver was first rate. There were no glitches in our whole week with A and K.

Lechner/Baker Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zamia

By: Deborah

Reviewed on: 18 May 2014

Amazing trip!!!!!!!!!! Our guide, Peniso was outstanding! Very knowledgeable and patient with all our questions. We both learned a tremendous amount and saw some amazing things. Accommodations and staff were also fantastic. I certainly hope to travel with A & K again!! And would highly recommend your company to anyone traveling to Africa.

Reviewed on: 06 Jun 2014

Excellent service, we highly recommend Albercommbie &Kent

By: Bobbye & Robert

Reviewed on: 02 Jul 2014

Albercombie & Kent provided a great trip, the personal services provided and details were excellent. The team in Johannesburg were extremely polite, attentive and helpful. We especially want to commend our guide we had in Botswana, Poniso Shamukuni. Poniso absolutely made the trip for us and our group. Always helpful, always there, always attentive, great attitude, funny, informative, thorough, and a delight to be with.

India!!!!!

By: CAB

Reviewed on: 23 Oct 2015

2 days with A&K in Russia

By: GG & JJ

Reviewed on: 14 Sep 2015

A & K are extremely professional. Nothing but 1st rate service each time we are in their care. They are very good at changes on the fly if necessary. Their staff are knowledgeable, very polite, and come as advertised. They DO know the secrets of the cities we have shared with them, and St. Petersburg is no exception. Once again, true to the adage, you get what you pay for. They do come at premium rates, that are justified by the premium service. On a trip such as we took it is easy to compare prices and services with other guests that took "similar" ground tours. While we did pay considerably more, we also got considerably more. One other great thing was the fact that they handled all Russian visa requirements, removing that burden from us. Thanks A & K for making a great trip even greater.

Phenomenal guides and service

By: DD

Reviewed on: 25 Sep 2015

This was our first trip with A&K and we would definitely recommend to anyone. They guided us through every step of this journey - and when visiting a country like Egypt and I think it is also the only way to travel and feel entirely safe. Laila our Egyptologist was very knowledgeable and incredibly helpful throughout. We had upgraded our room on the Sunboat to the Presidential Suite. When we checked in they upgraded us again to the Royal Suite given it had not been booked! Hugely appreciated. It will be hard not to want to book this on another trip! Many thanks to all.

Tour Expert

By: DDFJR

Reviewed on: 09 Oct 2015

a well designed trip

By: Cristina

Reviewed on: 23 Oct 2015

Three things I should point out: - Sudden changes on the itinerary on the go - The bus seats were far from confortable for the long trips we had every now and again. - My health issue of Hipertention , had been ignored and that ment a big problem for me.In spite of having sent you the form with my medical issues. Sincerely Cristina s Yarnoz

Kenya and Tanzania

By: Shaddix-Powell

Reviewed on: 31 Oct 2015

OMG - a trip of a LIFETIME! All of the representatives we met were friendly, helpful, and informed. All transfers and accommodations were there when they needed to be and we never were left not knowing what was going on or what to expect. The reserves were beautiful and each one was unique to the other. If I was going to give any suggestions, it would be to provide air conditioning in the vehicles when traveling from one destination to another. Not being used to the climate, we were pretty uncomfortable a lot of the time. And at Governors Camp, if they could provide a little fan to be used when needed. There too, we had times that was uncomfortable. It was a delightful trip, one that we will recommend to everyone and already have. We also have recommended your tour company over and over again. And would definitely travel with A&K to other destinations as well due to the high quality of service. WONDERFUL TRIP! Thanks again to all.

very good

By: Nance

Reviewed on: 02 Feb 2016

Excellent experience

By: ML from Ormond

Reviewed on: 18 Apr 2016

We were so impressed with the Guides who facilitated our trip. They were efficient, knowledgeable, energetic, fun and flexible. We were so overwhelmed with the richness of Peru and it's history, but they were able to explain so much to us. It really added to the quality of the trip. Every guide was different.....but all were excellent! They were patient with us, and guided us in many ways that were very helpful....shopping advise, rest, food, climbing and hiking at Machu Pichu. Our guide for 3 days in Cusco and at Machu Pichu was so wonderful!! He was able to assess our group and customize our time there so that we learned and experienced so much. We felt like he was a very good friend by the end of our trip!! That's probably the best compliment I could give. I would highly recommend the services of Abercrombie & Kent.

Great Personal Service

By: Sean & Egen

Reviewed on: 09 Dec 2016

A&K helped us have a once-in-a-lifetime experience on our trip. Our guardian angel helped recommend some restaurants, attractions, and lesser-known things to do that were all outstanding, and we definitely would not have been able to find them without her help! The tour guides we took were exceptional in their service, we loved every minute. Thanks!

Wonderful A&K

By: Philmom3

Reviewed on: 25 Oct 2016

We traveled with A & K to China and the Yang Tse. We had a great tour guide,Jason Lee who took great care of our group! He is friendly, caring and knowledgeable. The local tour guides were also great and added more information and color to the places we visited. The hotels were all 5 star as far as we are concerned. The meals were always a feast! Mira took us to the airport when it was time to leave and she stayed with us until we have checked in our luggage and were on our way to immigration. All in all an excellent trip!

Good cultural tour

By: Wominos

Reviewed on: 28 Oct 2016

Grenada accommodations -poor check in considering advance notice Marabella- dirty, small, dated not even 3 star quality of room Seville- good quality but way too small for two Local tour guides - outstanding, knowledgable, passionate, great ambassadors Food- very good except for crazy crab in Barcelona which was poor Transportation - air and train excellent. Bus transport could be improved - offer something more than just water, washrooms or pace the tour so that this does not become a wait for your guests. Disembarment help was sadly lacking and compared to other tours we have been on a huge disappointment. Also incident of observing the bus driver arguing with the tour director when he should be meeting her needs. Tour director- very good. It is asking a lot for one person to meet the needs of 22 people. We had an incident of the bus driving off without a passenger early in the tour and I don't think this would happen with a smaller group Overall very enjoyable

Organized a great trip

By: Robin

Reviewed on: 15 Dec 2016

Reliable People

By: Robert72

Reviewed on: 30 Dec 2016

If they say they will meet you at your plane, they will meet you and they will be on time. There's enough stress in travel without having to worry about your support company. A & K did a very good job for us.

A & K

By: Carol L

Reviewed on: 19 Apr 2017

A& K planned an excellent trip. Had us busy every minute of the day. Great lecturerers, fun excursions, nice hotels, unique activities. But best of all were the tour director and the local guides. They were wonderful! Smart, well informed, funny, helpful--they really made the trip.

World traveler

By: World traveler

Reviewed on: 14 May 2017

Our travel agent partnered with A&K in organizing our 6 off-ship excursions. They have the best guides, were always on time, provided little extras, and recommended only the best. Each trip was flawless in planning and execution. Experts accompanied us which made the experiences more potent and memorable. Don't hesitate to use them.

Africa

By: Shamrock

Reviewed on: 06 Jul 2017

Terrific vacations!

By: Deborah

Reviewed on: 07 Jul 2017

A and K makes traveling so easy and such fun. From providing fabulous accommodations, to flawless transfers, to knowledgeable guides, they are the best. I often travel on my own and so it is so nice to have a company have my back, if you will. Every A and K representative I've met, from the Far East to Europe, has been professional, punctual, responsive, and perfect. If you want a truly memorable trip, I recommend using A and K!

Galapagos

By: Dan

Reviewed on: 20 Aug 2017

A&K

By: Johnna

Reviewed on: 29 Aug 2017

Peru was great. Ecuador had too many issues to even start to discuss them here.

Not Recommended

Mostly overpriced bus trips

By: Jtsalley

Reviewed on: 17 Sep 2017

most of the tours offered were look out the window bus rides. The tour descriptions oversold what was actually presented. For instance on a tour to what was advertized as a "bird Island," we found no birds. They had left two to three weeks earlier as they always do. But this was not noted in the brochure
Most adventurous Travelers would do better personally and save money designing their own tours from the internet.

Recommended

Barge trip - Renaissance Loire/Burgundy

By: Mike and Susan

Reviewed on: 18 Sep 2017

This was a lovely trip. Not having done a barge trip we did not have specific expectations but did want to see the more rural and traditional side of France. The trip accomplished that. The barge was comfortable, the crew very responsive and helpful and the food and wine very good. We would do it again.
One small suggestion - perhaps the barge could offer some sort of picnic lunch that the guests could take with them on shore excursions as opposed to returning to the barge for lunch. We are walkers and bikers so the ability to take lunch and meet the barge at the evening mooring would be nice. In fairness, I am confident that the crew would have responded to such a request - we didn't think to ask until too late in the trip but might have had the option been offered earlier. That was our fault, not the barge's.
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and will probably do another one.

ArcticPassage

By: Travel queen

Reviewed on: 28 Sep 2017

A&K organizes the best itinerary, world class experts, and expeditions to thoroughly immerse us in the Arctic Passage. Thoughtfully organized, attention to details, and special surprises awaited us along the way. They do it right.

Reviewed on: 30 Sep 2017

Egypt.

By: Chuck the Hawk

Reviewed on: 02 Oct 2017

The Egyptologist that A&K used for this trip, was knowledgeable and interesting for all the guests on the trip. The sites selected were excellent. The only problem on this trip was some of the very, very early flight times on the internal trips. While I realize that it was the best they could do, I would hope that some small changes in the routing might have been done to give us a later flight time.

Egypt

By: Mike

Reviewed on: 05 Oct 2017

Mostly excellent.

Recommended

Well dealt with problems

By: Erik Nelson

Reviewed on: 14 Oct 2017

Honestly our experience with And K was very mixed while we were traveling 1 guide was excellent 1 was bad and one did not show up. However they were extremely accommodating when they were made aware of the issues.
Not every guide will have a great day every day and we understand that but A and K far exceeded my expectations on what they did to try and make it up to us. Their behavior was so virtuous that it as convinced me that our unpleasant encounters really must have been an anomaly and I would give them another try.

Reviewed on: 11 Oct 2017

Switzerland Trip

By: Jim Wagner

Reviewed on: 09 Oct 2017

We were pleased with all our transportation. The drivers were all on time, professionally dressed, with nice vehicles. We sometimes had trouble with the language differences, but benefited from their knowledge of the local regions.

Awesome experience!

By: Robin

Reviewed on: 17 Oct 2017

Very disappointing!

By: lynne

Reviewed on: 13 Oct 2017

Abercrombie's Luxury Small Group Journey turned out to be a vacation I would remember for all the wrong reasons. It was small but "luxury" it was not, (3 Hotels were what I felt I paid for and expected) the other 3 were horrible hotels with the lowest class of rooms, including the smell of sewage and street noise all night long. We had guide who was barely understandable and seemed disinterested and not connected to her work like she was going through the motions, and a poorly planned overdone trip which had as riding in a bus for hours on end to get from one tourist stop to the other. We came back exhausted, disappointed and glad to be home. No value for money here.

Recommended

A&K tours are First Class

By: John

Reviewed on: 14 Oct 2017

If you want a trip with ALL of the details taken care of for you, go with A&K. If you want extremely knowledgeable tour guides who tailor your trip to your wants and needs, go with A&K. They put together our trip to Peru with wonderful places that we never would have found on our own. They provide a detailed itinerary in advance but are perfectly willing to change the plans on the fly during your trip. The guides all spoke perfect English and were extremely well versed in the local culture. We will definitely use A&K again.

Trip to Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin

By: Bill Lehr

Reviewed on: 16 Oct 2017

An excellent trip with outstanding guides. Our tour leader, Gabor Kovacs, was one of the best--perhaps THE best--tour leader we ever have had. Although we had some reservations about the beauty of this area, we were surprised with the beauty of the entire area we visited. Of course, the history of Berlin hade the trip even more enjoyable.

a&k

By: Festus

Reviewed on: 18 Oct 2017

Outstanding! Personal guides is the way to go, Everyone was extremely knowledgeable and very organized and I don't think we could have seen nearly so much without their expert guidance, On top of that, they were ready to do whatever they could to maximize our experience. Every one of them was tops and it was obvious A&K has very high standards.

Review of Abercrombie & Kent USA

By: Dawn

Reviewed on: 21 Oct 2017

This was our second European Waterways canal trip with A&K. The barge was sparkling clean, beautifully run, fabulous staff, best of gourmet food with paired wine. The tempo of the trip was designed for the most relaxing experience. Loved it.

Great trip

By: DeeDee

Reviewed on: 10 Nov 2017

Morocco Imperial Cities

By: Anne

Reviewed on: 08 Nov 2017

It was a great trip. We had a good mix of cultural and religious sites, shopping, eating, etc. and Alami, our guide, was fantastic! The hotels were generally great -- especially the Sirhai in Fez -- but the Sofitel Hotels in Casablanca and Rabat were not great. Need to rethink those as they were dirty, huge (Rabat) and not comparable to the ones we stayed at in Fez and Marrakesh. Otherwise, the pace was good, you had some down time but plenty to do. The Atlas Mountains day trip was fantastic! All around, a great trip!

Jordan and Israel

By: Tom

Reviewed on: 29 Nov 2017

What did they do for us?

By: rb

Reviewed on: 28 Dec 2017

Paula Kay arranged a "tailor-made" (i.e., independent) tour of Chile with A&K. With the exception of being met in the Santiago airport by an A&K rep, who whisked us to a connecting flight (extremely helpful at SCL), we never had any contact at all with A&K.
On our return to SCL, the place was a complete zoo, and we would have benefitted from more rep help.
The Alto Atacama hotel in San Pedro de Atacama where we stayed was wonderful. We highly recommend the place.

Recommended

Review of Abercrombie & Kent

By: GandG

Reviewed on: 03 Jan 2018

As this was our first trip with A & K we were pleasantly surprised to feel totally comfortable with the itinerary and accommodations provided. The guides were very knowledgeable and provided information in such a way that we could understand and felt our questions were answered to our satisfaction. The days were long and there was an abundance of information provided, but the hotels that we stayed in provided an restful atmosphere in which we were able to restore ourselves for the next day's adventures.

Recommended

Antarctica

By: Sandy

Reviewed on: 13 Jan 2018

Excellent— the cruise was phenomenal and the guide, Augustin, was equally phenomenal!! I recommend this trip to anyone with a sense of adventure. It’s a once in a lifetime vacation!!

General Unpreparedness

By: John Wagner

Reviewed on: 14 Jan 2018

Our pre-trip itinerary and supporting documentation was marketed as if the trip was pre-scheduled and would be worry-free. Upon arriving in Cape Town, itinerary items had been adjusted and removed, and we were left scrambling late at night after long international travel to call and get our itinerary fixed. The itinerary we received upon arrival was vastly simplified. Our guides, who were all excellent, had been tasked with coordinating many activity logistics instead of having the pre-scheduled itinerary that we were promised. Even after being promised by them that our itinerary would be restored to the one that we booked, wine tastings were not pre-scheduled, we did not get to do a bike ride that had been promised, and our first full day in the country was limited to a half-day rather than the full day promised in the itinerary. Also, A&K never communicated the timing of hotel and airport transfers and "made it up to us" by simply sending a bottle of sparkling wine to our hotel room.

Recommended

A&K Antarctica

By: MIkeR

Reviewed on: 14 Jan 2018

A&K - the ship is amazing, the staff was knowledgeable and entertaining, The place was breathtaking.
There are lots of choices to go to Antarctica - A&K is a very good one.

A&K Staff in Egypt Were Informative, Friendly & Always on Time

By: Mimi

Reviewed on: 23 Feb 2018

Our tour coordinator Amr Nabil made sure everything ran smoothly from the time we arrived until we headed home again. That was no small feat as we visited several cities and took several domestic flights within Egypt. Laila Abdel Raouf was our guide for Cairo and the surrounding sites, and she was fabulous! Our driver Khaled handled the traffic with aplomb and drove us to busy urban sites, as well as more distant towns in comfort. The A&K staff really deserve extra kudos!

Dash

By: Walk Fam

Reviewed on: 19 Jan 2018

From the moment we landed in Sri Lanka to the moment we departed, we could have not been in more competent hands with Arabian, A&K and especially our extremely skillful, professional and great humored driver, Darshana Pushbushpakumara who we affectionally referred to as Dash. Dash is one of those one in a million people. Always smiling, always willing to share with us his deep and rich and proud knowledge of his country and culture. In addition, his ability to navigate use efficiently and safely through the roads of Sri Lanka was entirely amazing. We as a family wholeheartedly recommend Arabian, A&K and especially Dash to anyone interested in traveling to Sri Lanka. The Walker Family.

Safari in Tanzania

By: nkk

Reviewed on: 19 Jan 2018

Our experience with Abercrombie & Kent was fabulous! We knew before traveling with A&K that they were an excellent tour company but our experience surpassed our expectations. The representatives that picked us up at the airport and transported us to different destinations were professional, courteous and helpful. The accommodations were superb. We really liked that the 3 camps we stayed at were each comfortable and unique. The staff at the camps were amazing! The staff are welcoming and accommodating and very professional. The meals and snacks were delicious and nutritious. The tents were luxurious and romantic. The views and scenery at each camp was breathtaking.
Our guides that drove us on the safaris were so knowledgeable, patient and conscientious. Our guides, Abdul and Emmanuel, made the trip so enjoyable and memorable.
The hosts at each camp went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We really want to thank Suleiman at Sancturary Ngorongoro.
Thank you so much!!

East Africa

By: Lorelle

Reviewed on: 03 Feb 2018

I cannot believe my good fortune for having this incredible experience. A&K staff (special kudos to Charles who found our lost bags) were outstanding, personable and knowledgeable.
Add to that all the small details, hot water bottles and turndown service on those chilly nights, hot cocoa served in our tent every morning, enthusiastic guides and drivers, along with informative lectures.

Pretty Much As Expected

By: Betty

Reviewed on: 08 Feb 2018

This is our third trip on Safari with A & K. Everything went very well and they were there when we needed and expected them to be this making the trip most enjoyable and less stressful. My only complaint would be in the communication with several of the agents in the Chicago office. I lost patience but worked through Deb Knopf, our travel agent, and all worked out. They seemed to take forever to respond to requests and one was particularly curt with her responses. Having owned a travel agency and having been a travel agent earlier in my career ( I am now retired), I am well aware of what to expect in form of response time, etc. and/or even checking back to indicate they needed more time. I also expected more detail for some of the responses as the itinerary was complex and required more detail for the response. In Africa everyone was wonderful and very professional and we could not have been more pleased.

Sarawak & Sabah

By: Steve Guinn

Reviewed on: 16 Feb 2018

Two private tours booked through Catherine Conn w/A&K. Both were excellent and we appreciate willingness to modify and change on the fly, particularly our stop in Kuching which was delayed from our original plan due to tides.

Top Notch!

By: Jcoles

Reviewed on: 17 Mar 2018

Our Peru adventure was seamless with A&K. The arrival of our “book of adventures” (as I like to call it) was a great summary of everything we neede to know. We especially appreciated the tipping guide. It’s always hard to know what’s appropriate.
But the one thing that made our experience truly remarkable was our guide, Frances. He is exceptional in so many ways- from our initial meeting to his knowledge of the flora and fauna (especially birds) as well as the history and details of each area that we visited. We’ve never encountered an individual that knew so much about everything! He was quick to engage our 10 year old daughter in everything we did. She loved him as much as we did!
He is a remarkable individual and a true asset to the A&K team. Well done Frances!!